BAYSIDE - The village is searching for a new police chief after the Jan. 9 retirement of Chief Scott McConnell.

McConnell was sworn in as police chief in April 2014, but his service to Bayside spans 32 years. He joined the village in 1986 as a laborer for the Bayside Public Works Department. He shifted to the police department a short time later and was promoted to captain in 2000.

Bayside Village Manager Andy Pederson said he plans to have a new police chief hired by late March or early April. In the meantime, the village has hired law-enforcement veteran Doug Larrson to lead the department on a 90-day contract.

Larrson, whose first day with Bayside was Jan. 10, previously served as chief of administration for the Lake County Sheriff’s office, police chief in Wauconda, Illinois, police chief in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, and positions ranging from patrol officer to deputy chief in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

McConnell, a resident of Belgium, Wisconsin, said, "It was an honor to serve the residents of this village for almost 32 years.” He said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Marybeth and their three adult children.

Also retiring on Jan. 12 was Bayside Officer Mike Groh, who has been with the department for 28 years. The department hired Officer Phil Nawrocki in early January.